DFS Picks:
Nori Aoki (LF-SFG) - Nori Aoki is a pesky hitter who always seems to find himself on base. Aoki is likely to lead off on Sunday against the rookie Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani has pitched well this season, but his 1.83 WHIP against lefties is hard to ignore. In 42 innings, DeSclafani has allowed lefties to hit .286 with 14 walks. This alone makes Aoki a good candidate to reach base. Given Aoki's .298 BABIP and 10.2% walk rate, he should fair well in the matchup. If he reaches base, Aoki will probably put his career 71% stolen base success rate to the test. All things considered, Aoki is a cheap DFS pick and should put together a solid performance on Sunday. FanDuel Value Pick $2,800
Brandon Crawford (SS-SFG) - Due to Anthony DeSclafani's inability to pitch to lefties, Brandon Crawford also makes a good DFS pick. Crawford's power will be a valuable factor in this matchup. Over the course of 119 at bats, Crawford has seven doubles, one triple, and six home runs. His .209 ISO and .504 SLG are tough to find from a shortstop these days. Due to the hitter friendly nature of Great American Ballpark, Crawford's potential for an extra base hit gets a boost. Since DeSclafani walks plenty of lefties, Crawford's 10.2% BB rate should also come into play. Overall, this matchup presents a great opportunity for Crawford, which makes his DFS ceiling high. FanDuel Value Pick $2,400
Noah Syndergaard (SP-NYM) - Inexpensive pitching with a high upside will be tough to find on Sunday. If you are willing to take the risk, Noah Syndergaard could have a high payoff. In the minors, Syndergaard averaged 10.31 K/9 with a .192 BAA. His opponent, the Brewers, have the third highest strikeout total in all of baseball, and the second worst team batting average in the MLB (.229). Syndergaard is also likely to exploit the Brew Crew's tendency to swing for the fence. In Triple-A, Syndergaard only allowed two home runs in 29.2 IP. Based on Citi Field's 0.766 home run park factor, Syndergaard should continue to keep the ball out of the bleachers. My only concern is that Syndergaard's control might be a tad shaky threw his first few starts due to nerves. Regardless, his matchup is good to ignore. As long as Syndergaard can keep his control in check, he's a sure thing to put together a quality start with 5-8 strikeouts. FanDuel Value Pick $7,000
Injury Report:
Randal Grichuk (CF-STL) - Randal Grichuk returned from the D.L. on Saturday to lead off against the Tigers. Grichuk has never been much of a speedster, but his ability to hit for extra bases is undeniable. Over his last three seasons, Grichuk has amassed 174 extra base hits. This includes 68 home runs, 86 doubles, and 20 triples. Despite a tough matchup, Grichuk was given the start against David Price. Grichuk made the most of his opportunity going 2 for 4 with a double off of Price. With Bourjos in center, Holliday in left, and Heyward in right, Grichuk probably won't see much playing time. However, he still is worth waiver wire consideration in competitive fantasy leagues. Grichuk has the potential to hit 20 home runs, and can play anywhere in the outfield.
Hunter Pence (RF-SFG) - Hunter Pence returned to action after missing 36 games with a broken forearm. Pence batted sixth and played right field. In his first four at bats of the season, Pence went two for three with a walk, three runs scored, and a double. It was almost as if he was in midseason form. Before Saturday night, the Giants had the fourth lowest run total in the MLB. Somehow, they have managed to maintain second place in the N.L. West. With Pence back, maybe the Giants offense can get rolling. Pence is a career .284 hitter who has averaged 23 home runs, 92 RBIs, and 92 runs scored over his past three seasons.
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Time Frame: Season
